Treble Shuffle

Chapter 1: (06:53) Blues Shuffle on the Treble Strings
At this point in the lesson series, you have already learned how to play the shuffle rhythm on the bass strings in all 12 keys. Hawkeye also taught you several ways to vary this rhythm in order to keep your blues playing exciting. Now, you will learn how to play the basic blues shuffle on the treble strings.

Music Theory

When playing a shuffle pattern, the fifth and sixth scale degrees are played in conjunction with each chord root. Hawkeye explains this theoretical concept in relation to an E major chord. Within this chord structure, the tonic and fifth of the chord are the notes E and B. This chord voicing alternates between the tonic and major sixth of this chord. The tonic and sixth are the notes E and C# respectively. As Hawkeye mentions, the b7 of the chord, D, frequently is added to the shuffle pattern. You learned how to add this chord tone to one of the variations on the shuffle pattern in a past lesson.

Reminders

-Remember that the order of chord voicings (1 and 5, 1 and 6, or 1 and 7) can be varied within the shuffle pattern. You can start on 1 and 7, 1 and 5, or 1 and 6. Then, experiment with the remaining chord order.

-Also, remember to vary the tempo at which you practice the basic shuffle pattern. Blues songs are played at a wide range of tempos. Hawkeye demonstrates a very slow shuffle rhythm at 02:40.

Shuffle on the Treble Strings

Start with a basic open E chord. Along the 2nd string, you have the fifth, sixth, and flat seventh notes available. Once again, these notes are B, C#, and D. By playing these notes against the basic E major chord shape, you have created a shuffle pattern on the treble strings. This shifting melody line must be played with the pinkie finger.

To apply these concepts to the IV and V chords, you must use barre chord shapes for dominant seventh chords. The barre chord shapes for major chords do not work since the pinkie must be free to play the 5, 6, and b7 melody line on the B string.

However, for the IV chord, A, you can use the open A shape. Use fingers 1, 2, and 3 to fret the notes on the fourth, third, and second strings. Then, play the shuffle melody on the high E string instead of the B string. The 5, 6, and b7 in relation to an A major chord are E, F#, and G. These notes can be found at the open, 2nd, and 3rd frets of the high E string.

Moving the shuffle rhythm to the treble strings will provide you with one new exciting way of playing this staple rhythm. Most blues music follows a single harmonic form. For this reason, you must be able to play through the 12 bar blues form using a variety of different rhythm figures.

All 12 Keys

Remember to practice everything that Hawkeye teaches in all twelve keys. The E7 shape can easily be converted into a movable barre chord shape with the root note on the low sixth string. This barre chord shape can be transposed anywhere on the fretboard. Hawkeye has already demonstrated how to use this barre chord shape when playing the treble shuffle with the A7 and B7 chords. Simply transpose this rhythm pattern to the appropriate fretboard location.

If you are struggling with the full dominant seventh barre chord, Hawkeye demonstrates a way of playing the shuffle rhythm an abbreviated form of this chord shape. This example can be found at 06:20 in the lesson video.

Chapter 2: (02:28) Jammin' with the Blues
Jamming with other musicians is an extremely beneficial and entertaining way to hone your chops. A key component of jamming with other musicians at home is that you are free to experiment and try new things. If what you try ends up sounding bad, don't worry. After all, there is no audience present to disappoint. If the new idea sounds good, then you have just discovered something new that will potentially take your playing to new heights. The best way to learn is by making mistakes and analyzing them.

For example, if you sit down and jam with someone and they are playing the basic shuffle pattern, what will you do? One option is to improvise a solo with the minor pentatonic or blues scale. If you wish to stick to rhythm at this moment in the jam, you are free to do so. However, you don’t want to play the exact same thing the other guitarist is playing, because he/she is already doing it. Instead, you could play the treble version of the shuffle rhythm to round out the sound. By the same token, if somebody else is playing the shuffle in the treble register, you could play the shuffle pattern on the bass strings.

Supplemental Learning Material

Member Comments about this Lesson

Hey Hawkeye, I don't know how old these lessons are? BUT, they are great and I've learned so much and I'm only on #26. I'm 63 and took up the guitar and joined JP a little over a year ago, after retiring. I'm enjoying the ride.

Hi Hawkeye. I am 66yrs old, Norwegian (living in Norway). It is fun hearing you say you spent a lot of time with Brownie McGhee. The first blues-record I bought ( back in the late 60.s) was with Brownie McGhee - and Sonny Terry. The first blues-BOOK I bought was Brownie' book. It's a small world. AS for learning to play the blues - I am very happy that you took the time to "make a system" that works fantastic pedagogically. Thanks. Svein I. Ask (asken)

Greetings Svein,
Thanks so much for the message and kind comments. I'm glad you're enjoying these lessons and my style of teaching. Yes, Brownie McGhee was a mentor to me back in the late 1960s & early 1970s, as he lived only about a mile away from me in Oakland, CA, and I spent a good deal learning from him, and playing with him, at his home. Brownie had a great influence on my style of playing and approach to the music. I'm forever grateful to him for taking the time to 'bring me along' in blues music. You'll find many Hawkeye versions of blues songs on video here: http://www.youtube.com/user/HawkeyeH ... try to play along with me as you watch the videos ... it's good practice, and you can see how I use the blues guitar techniques I teach here at JamPlay.com when I'm performing in concert and at festivals. Also, if you're interested in blues history and background stories on the many iconic blues musicians I met and learned from over the years, you might enjoy reading some of the articles I've written: http://hawkeyeherman.com/articles.htm .... I was in Notodden/Norway to perform in concert just one year ago, in Oct. of 2013. I enjoyed my time in Norway very much and I hope to return ... someday. Thanks again for taking the time to let me know that you're enjoying these lessons ... and of your longtime knowledge and enjoyment of the music of Brownie McGhee. I hope you continue to enjoy these lessons.

Yes, I performed in Notodden for the festival organization and also a concert in Kongsberg in Oct. of last year. I hope to return to Norway sometime in the the future. So, perhaps we'll meet in-person someday ;-) and we can jam on some blues guitar.

As usual, another great lesson. "Guitar Gramma" mentioned she has arthritus in her fingers. I've had the same for at least 20 years, but after 1 1/2 years playing the guitar, the pain is gone. You are right, guitar playing (at least for me) is excellent therapy.

Thanks for the kind comment about this lesson. I'm glad to hear that playing the guitar has been good therapy for your arthritis, Michael. I hope you continue to enjoy these lessons ... and that playing the guitar continues to be therapeutic for your arthritis. :-)

Thanks so much for your kind comments and for enjoying these lessons. I've given a lot of thought and planning into the content and order of these lessons ... I hope you'll follow these lessons in the order they are presented ... takie you time, move/progress at your own speed ... and you'll develop a strong foundation in and understaning for blues music. Thanks again. I hope you continue to enjoy these lessons.

i have learned more here with hawkeye through 26 lessons then i did in one year and hundreds of bucks. i'm telling everyone i know to come here to jamplay. wow. amazing results. i started doing things on the acoustic but moved over to a fender strat with a fender blues junior amp. much better! thanks hawk! rob.

Hi Hawkeye, I have to tell you I am having so much fun with your lessons! This one really opened my eyes, I love all the variations you give us. I have some arthritis in my fretting hand which sometimes gives me grief....now I am seeing I can make changes to make it a little easier on these old fingers! Thanks so much, you keep me moving along this blues highway!

Thanks for taking the time to let me know that you're progressing nicely via my lessons. I really appreciate it. I have arthritis in my fingers, too, and the guitar is excellent therapy ... take your time, don't overdue it/hurt yourself, be patient with yourself ... and I truly hope you continue to enjoy these lessons. ;-)

I have a little confession to make here Hawkeye, i still cant do the shuffle in the key of E when it comes to that darn V chord (B) and reach up to the 6th fret with my pinky!! Still practising it though, making some ground, but i think it'll be the death of me lol!! Now this lesson kinda lets me off the hook, so to speak, by letting me do the shuffle beat on the treble strings in the B chord on the 7th fret, and that is easy, so at least i can still continue to play the blues without being stuck forever on your first group of lessons. OB

Have you tried to play the B7 and A chords, for a shuffle rhythm, using the barred E/F chord at the 7th (B) and 5th (A) frets ... maybe the reach will be easier for you if you use the E/F type barre chord than the A shaped barre chord. Also, in either barred chord shape, it's only necessary to hold down the low strings with pressure from your index and second fingers (then your pinky) ... not all six strings. I don't apply much, if any, pressure to strings that I'm not going to play ... regardless of the chord shape ... barre or otherwise. It's a waste of energy ... to hold down strings with solid pressure that you're not going to pick notes on. Good luck with improving your shuffle abilities. Cheers for your patience.

Thanks so much for the question. Please replay the lesson and let me know exactly where in the lesson this is by telling me at what point in the lesson it is in minutes and seconds ... and I'll try to answer your question.

It's a G9 chord. Go here to see it, it's the last (6th) chord on the page: http://www.guitarconsultant.com/chords-g9.html Don't step in any cowpies :-) ... but then in India, you're used to dodging cowpies. Namaste.

gerndt, Thanks for your comment. I try to make the lessons fun, entertaining, informative, and a bit challenging. What might seem easy to you may be hard for somebody else, and what may be hard/difficult for you may be easy to somebody else ... so I try to keep the lessons fun and just challenging enough that with some practice you can accomplish what I teach. You're not dreaming or delusional ... you're actually getting better on the guitar ;-) Please continue to enjoy these lessons.

Hey Hawkeye. I'm having a hard time playing the E-A-B progression at the 6:30 mark in the video because my hand isn't built like yours. My fingers are longer and I have a hard time curling my pinkey up on the B string and moving it fluently. Is this something that will come with time? Anything I can do to ease my playing?
Thanks very much for the great lessons. I really enjoy your teaching.

cfreyer, Thanks for the message. I have long fingers and big hands ... but if f your fingers are longer than mine ... you should have no trouble doing this ... you need to practice ... for hours ... for days ... not minutes ... keep your left elbow away from your body, get your left hand more forward and curved around the neck, make your fingers stand up straighter ... and watch what I'm doing and follow my positions carefully ... this exercise of playing a shuffle rhythm on the treble strings is way easier than playing a shuffle rhythm in the bass strings and having to stretch your pinky for two or three frets. This is a long and winding road that has no end ... I've been playing the guitar for 50 years (!) ... it shouldn't take you 50 years to accomplish this ... but at the same time, expecting to be able to play like me in only a few minutes or a few hours ... is somewhat unrealistic, don't you think? Every time you pick up the guitar to practice you get better ... so ... pick up the guitar as often as possible and don't move on to another lesson until you get it right ... if you skip around, there will be 'holes' in your blues foundation. Please be patient with yourself ... take it slow ... if you can't do it slow ... you won't be able to do it fast ... so crawl, then walk, then run. Enjoy the process. This is not about being frustrated ... this is a challenge about self fulfillment. Patience, my friend ... I've been doing this stuff almost my entire life ... if you ever think that you're a master ... of ... anything (other than video games) ... you ain't. There's always more to learn. Enjoy the learning process ... and one day you'll look back at this question you've posed for me ... and chuckle. ;-)

Blues Guitar with Hawkeye

The blues is a distinctly American style of music. Many popular genres such as jazz, rock, and country music draw upon basic blues concepts. Consequently, it is advantageous for any guitarist to study the blues.

Hawkeye explains how to add variety to the shuffle pattern by transferring the bass notes to the treble register and by adding palm muting. He also explains how you can create your own shuffle variations.

Having trouble getting those fingers to form barre chords? In lesson #115 of his Blues Series, Hawkeye covers some tips and techniques to help with these problematic chord shapes. Any beginner can master...

Hawkeye opens up some ideas on how to "plan ahead" in your playing. Similar to riding a bike, you need to look forward to see where your going. Humming what you want to play allows you to anticipate the...

"Herman plays with a sensitive, reflective touch that continually draws
attention to his vocals, which are effectively understated and free of
affectation... Herman can rock with the best of them. A solid choice for fans of
traditional acoustic blues."Living Blues Magazine

" ...plays haunting music on a mournful guitar." Los Angeles Times

"The only thing better than hearing this live album is seeing Hawkeye Herman
in the flesh. Whether adding his own spin to blues classics or offering his
own songs, Herman is a one-man history of blues, noteworthy guitar player and
inimitable communicator. Miss him at your peril."Blues Access

With over 40 years of performing experience, Michael "Hawkeye" Herman
personifies the range of possibilities in blues and folk music. His dynamic blues
guitar playing and vocal abilities have won him a faithful following and he leads
a very active touring schedule of performances at festivals, concerts, school
programs and educational workshops throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
His original music has been included in video dramas and documentaries and in
four hit theatrical productions.

In 2000, Hawkeye was awarded Philadelphia's
Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre for best original music in a
theatrical production. "Everyday Living," Hawkeye's first nationally released album
from 1987, now reissued on CD, features the late blues giants Charles Brown and
"Cool Papa" Sadler, and established the demand for his now long-standing
festival and concert touring. His latest CDs and DVD, "Blues Alive!" (CD), "It's
All Blues To Me" (CD), and "Hawkeye Live In Concert" (DVD) have been greeted
with rave reviews. Hawkeye's journalistic efforts have been published in numerous
national and regional blues and music-related periodicals.

In 1998 he was the
recipient of the Blues Foundation's "Keeping The Blues Alive" award for
achievement in education. He served on the Board of Directors of the Blues
Foundation for six years. Hawkeye was inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of fame in
2004. In September of 2005, Hawkeye composed, at the request of the British
Broadcasting Company (BBC), "Katrina, Oh Katrina (Hurricane Blues)," detailing the
hurricane disaster on the Gulf Coast. The song was aired to over 7 million
listeners on the popular "BBC Today" program. He is the cofounder of the Rogue
Valley Blues Festival, Ashland, OR.

This musician has definitely carved out a
spot for himself in the contemporary acoustic blues/folk field, and has earned a
reputation as one of the most accomplished artists in the genre, and
audiences throughout the US/Canada/Europe have come to know and appreciate Hawkeye's
talent, dedication, and captivating performances.

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